(07-28-2019 12:34 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:51 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:43 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Five weeks

Are ya ready for some football?

I'm ready for some football. Just not sure I'm ready for some Rice football...

I'll be getting together again with some Army friends to watch the carnage together. Last time it was over before a few got to the sports bar. Hope we can last a bit longer this time.

I just hope (and expect) that we will do better than UH (70-14).

(07-28-2019 04:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 12:34 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:51 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:43 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Five weeks
Are ya ready for some football?

I'm ready for some football. Just not sure I'm ready for some Rice football...

I'll be getting together again with some Army friends to watch the carnage together. Last time it was over before a few got to the sports bar. Hope we can last a bit longer this time.

I just hope (and expect) that we will do better than UH (70-14).

How is it that Army (and until last year, Navy) can put together programs that achieve such levels of success, when Rice can't come close?

Most of their athletes are not people that we would have recruited. Remember, 10 years ago Navy beat Rice 63-14 with a number of players on their team from Texas, none of whom we recruited. They have very similar academic requirements plus the burden of a military commitment after graduation (which is getting watered down, but is still there). They are not located in football recruiting hotbeds anything like Texas in general and the Houston area in particular. So how do they do it?

I think that a serious and detailed study of what they do and how they do it would be useful in order to determine any "best practices" that Rice could adopt. We clearly need to do something differently. Maybe "pound the rock" will work. I hope so.

(07-28-2019 08:39 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 04:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 12:34 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:51 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:43 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Five weeks
Are ya ready for some football?

I'm ready for some football. Just not sure I'm ready for some Rice football...

I'll be getting together again with some Army friends to watch the carnage together. Last time it was over before a few got to the sports bar. Hope we can last a bit longer this time.

I just hope (and expect) that we will do better than UH (70-14).

How is it that Army (and until last year, Navy) can put together programs that achieve such levels of success, when Rice can't come close?

Most of their athletes are not people that we would have recruited. Remember, 10 years ago Navy beat Rice 63-14 with a number of players on their team from Texas, none of whom we recruited. They have very similar academic requirements plus the burden of a military commitment after graduation (which is getting watered down, but is still there). They are not located in football recruiting hotbeds anything like Texas in general and the Houston area in particular. So how do they do it?

I think that a serious and detailed study of what they do and how they do it would be useful in order to determine any "best practices" that Rice could adopt. We clearly need to do something differently. Maybe "pound the rock" will work. I hope so.

Seems to me that we recruit against the academies all the time, at least most of our commits show offers or interest from the academies.

I understand that prep schools sponsored by the academies have an influence.

Or maybe the academies just get the most committed players.

Or maybe we need to go back to the Hatfield attack.

(07-28-2019 10:09 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 08:39 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 04:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 12:34 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:51 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  I'm ready for some football. Just not sure I'm ready for some Rice football...

I'll be getting together again with some Army friends to watch the carnage together. Last time it was over before a few got to the sports bar. Hope we can last a bit longer this time.

I just hope (and expect) that we will do better than UH (70-14).

How is it that Army (and until last year, Navy) can put together programs that achieve such levels of success, when Rice can't come close?

Most of their athletes are not people that we would have recruited. Remember, 10 years ago Navy beat Rice 63-14 with a number of players on their team from Texas, none of whom we recruited. They have very similar academic requirements plus the burden of a military commitment after graduation (which is getting watered down, but is still there). They are not located in football recruiting hotbeds anything like Texas in general and the Houston area in particular. So how do they do it?

I think that a serious and detailed study of what they do and how they do it would be useful in order to determine any "best practices" that Rice could adopt. We clearly need to do something differently. Maybe "pound the rock" will work. I hope so.

Seems to me that we recruit against the academies all the time, at least most of our commits show offers or interest from the academies.

I understand that prep schools sponsored by the academies have an influence.

Or maybe the academies just get the most committed players.

Or maybe we need to go back to the Hatfield attack.

FFS. It's not about Xs and Os nor is it about talent. How is this not plain, after all this time? The academies have a clear identity and a clear mission (including all-important rivalries) for their whole institution to rally around and buy into. We don't. We pissed ours away.

What's the all-important goal for Rice football? Winning CUSA?

(07-28-2019 10:09 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 08:39 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 04:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 12:34 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 09:51 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  I'm ready for some football. Just not sure I'm ready for some Rice football...

I'll be getting together again with some Army friends to watch the carnage together. Last time it was over before a few got to the sports bar. Hope we can last a bit longer this time.

I just hope (and expect) that we will do better than UH (70-14).

How is it that Army (and until last year, Navy) can put together programs that achieve such levels of success, when Rice can't come close?

Most of their athletes are not people that we would have recruited. Remember, 10 years ago Navy beat Rice 63-14 with a number of players on their team from Texas, none of whom we recruited. They have very similar academic requirements plus the burden of a military commitment after graduation (which is getting watered down, but is still there). They are not located in football recruiting hotbeds anything like Texas in general and the Houston area in particular. So how do they do it?

I think that a serious and detailed study of what they do and how they do it would be useful in order to determine any "best practices" that Rice could adopt. We clearly need to do something differently. Maybe "pound the rock" will work. I hope so.

Seems to me that we recruit against the academies all the time, at least most of our commits show offers or interest from the academies.

I understand that prep schools sponsored by the academies have an influence.

Or maybe the academies just get the most committed players.

Or maybe we need to go back to the Hatfield attack.

Maybe a Hatfield offense attack, Goldsmith defense with some ruowls passing scheme and Hambone special teams?

Not sure if we could get 6 wins but playing in the Southland Conference we would at least have a shot at getting to .500 ball.

(07-28-2019 11:20 AM)illiniowl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 10:09 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 08:39 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 04:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 12:34 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I'll be getting together again with some Army friends to watch the carnage together. Last time it was over before a few got to the sports bar. Hope we can last a bit longer this time.

I just hope (and expect) that we will do better than UH (70-14).

How is it that Army (and until last year, Navy) can put together programs that achieve such levels of success, when Rice can't come close?

Most of their athletes are not people that we would have recruited. Remember, 10 years ago Navy beat Rice 63-14 with a number of players on their team from Texas, none of whom we recruited. They have very similar academic requirements plus the burden of a military commitment after graduation (which is getting watered down, but is still there). They are not located in football recruiting hotbeds anything like Texas in general and the Houston area in particular. So how do they do it?

I think that a serious and detailed study of what they do and how they do it would be useful in order to determine any "best practices" that Rice could adopt. We clearly need to do something differently. Maybe "pound the rock" will work. I hope so.

Seems to me that we recruit against the academies all the time, at least most of our commits show offers or interest from the academies.

I understand that prep schools sponsored by the academies have an influence.

Or maybe the academies just get the most committed players.

Or maybe we need to go back to the Hatfield attack.

FFS. It's not about Xs and Os nor is it about talent. How is this not plain, after all this time? The academies have a clear identity and a clear mission (including all-important rivalries) for their whole institution to rally around and buy into. We don't. We pissed ours away.

What's the all-important goal for Rice football? Winning CUSA?

Unfortunately, I'd pretty much agree here. Army is a commitment in more ways than one. A school, that is committed to a mission and it's chosen men whio come to play. Their unique and shared camaraderie goes a long way towards overcoming superior opponents as long as they have a committed coach, which they do now. Rice's vibe is specifically non-committal, non-judgemental of performance, country club for then 11 seasons prior to Bloom, and just happy you got a scholly and don't rock the boat. Now, Bloom may be able to change the program atmosphere vis a vis drills and slaps on butt, but the overarching university level relative apparent ambivalence casts a long shadow.

When we have won in the past, the commitment to up the ante has just not been there from the powers that be, and it has stifled most moments of brief success for the program. We don't have a mountain-climber mentality. We're happy on the plateau (uh, oh ) or more aptly, sliding slowly down the mountain and hope no one notices too much. Individual players and coaches that have escaped Rice to have other football success seem too often to have more or less needed to do it in spite of Rice. That's a real shame for what should be a great university, but it is apparently the status quo.

That would almost certainly have to change ion order to pull a Boise, or TCU, or whoever. To pull a Rice means to embarrassingly and slowly drift towards failure. Not too proud to be associated with that, but I still root for our guys nevertheless.

(07-28-2019 11:20 AM)illiniowl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 10:09 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 08:39 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 04:39 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-28-2019 12:34 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  I'll be getting together again with some Army friends to watch the carnage together. Last time it was over before a few got to the sports bar. Hope we can last a bit longer this time.

I just hope (and expect) that we will do better than UH (70-14).

How is it that Army (and until last year, Navy) can put together programs that achieve such levels of success, when Rice can't come close?

Most of their athletes are not people that we would have recruited. Remember, 10 years ago Navy beat Rice 63-14 with a number of players on their team from Texas, none of whom we recruited. They have very similar academic requirements plus the burden of a military commitment after graduation (which is getting watered down, but is still there). They are not located in football recruiting hotbeds anything like Texas in general and the Houston area in particular. So how do they do it?

I think that a serious and detailed study of what they do and how they do it would be useful in order to determine any "best practices" that Rice could adopt. We clearly need to do something differently. Maybe "pound the rock" will work. I hope so.

Seems to me that we recruit against the academies all the time, at least most of our commits show offers or interest from the academies.

I understand that prep schools sponsored by the academies have an influence.

Or maybe the academies just get the most committed players.

Or maybe we need to go back to the Hatfield attack.

FFS. It's not about Xs and Os nor is it about talent. How is this not plain, after all this time? The academies have a clear identity and a clear mission (including all-important rivalries) for their whole institution to rally around and buy into. We don't. We pissed ours away.

What's the all-important goal for Rice football? Winning CUSA?

Agreed.

But can we also please do away with the myth that Rice has more talent than the academies???

We are all very much in the same tier, with Rice generally having WORSE-ranked classes: https://247sports.com/Season/2019-Footba...mRankings/

The Academies prep schools allow them to “redshirt” players without it counting to their eligibility timeline. Doing so let’s them recruit currently undersized players as well as players who don’t immediately qualify academically. And does anyone know what their budgets are for recruiting or for the football programs overall?

(07-29-2019 01:55 AM)Intellectual_Brutality Wrote:  But can we also please do away with the myth that Rice has more talent than the academies???
We are all very much in the same tier, with Rice generally having WORSE-ranked classes: https://247sports.com/Season/2019-Footba...mRankings/

We used to be ahead of them. But they have passed us because their successes have made them more desirable destination options. Most of the guys in our recruiting range have little shot at the NFL, and most of them are bright enough to realize it. And the military looks like an exciting place to spend a few years (it is, I did 22 counting reserve time), so for a young man looking for adventure the military commitment is not the negative that it once might have been.

I think the key is that they have a mission and focus on that mission, whereas we have kind of been splattered all over the place. I'm not sure we can develop a mission, but I think we have to if we are to become competitive again.

Goodowl is exactly right on this. We could be just like Army if we wanted. Rice must have the desire to be great in athletics.
It must spend all the money necessary, and it must hold it's coaches to the highest standard of success on the field of play.
Being G5 wouldn't matter at all if Rice really wanted nationally relevant football and basketball programs. We could be up there with Army, Navy, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern etc. I'm completely convinced of that.

(07-29-2019 09:33 AM)Ourland Wrote:  and it must hold it's coaches to the highest standard of success on the field of play.

Starting...now?

Starting yesterday

(07-29-2019 11:28 AM)Ourland Wrote:  Starting yesterday

Almost time for the annual predictions thread. It will be interesting to see what standards will be expected this year.

(07-29-2019 11:35 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-29-2019 11:28 AM)Ourland Wrote:  Starting yesterday

Almost time for the annual predictions thread. It will be interesting to see what standards will be expected this year.

Prediction =/= standards

(07-29-2019 11:41 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(07-29-2019 11:35 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-29-2019 11:28 AM)Ourland Wrote:  Starting yesterday

Almost time for the annual predictions thread. It will be interesting to see what standards will be expected this year.

Prediction =/= standards

So what would be the standards we want to use to"hold it's[Rice's] coaches to the highest standard of success on the field of play."

I think 14-0 is unrealistic.

I think 4 wins,given the schedule and last year's results, would be a pretty good standard of achievement this year. I hope we exceed that standard, though. I don't expect it, but I hope for it.

(07-29-2019 12:36 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  So what would be the standards we want to use to"hold it's[Rice's] coaches to the highest standard of success on the field of play."

I think consistently winning 10+, year in and year out, is where we need to be, at least as long as we are in CUSA. We are not there, and are not going to be there this year. What I want to see is reason to believe we could get there. That might be number of wins, that might be the eyeball test. But I want to see reasons to believe.

Quote:I think 14-0 is unrealistic.
I think 4 wins,given the schedule and last year's results, would be a pretty good standard of achievement this year. I hope we exceed that standard, though. I don't expect it, but I hope for it.

If I had to pick a number of wins for a standard for this year, 4 sounds about right.

It looks like we added stripes to the jerseys this season. I like it.

The practice jerseys..

(08-02-2019 06:52 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  The practice jerseys..

Just the practice jerseys?